Canton Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Fulton County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2022-10-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Canton Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 47.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 47.5 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Canton Lake
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Fishing Canton Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Canton Lake averages about 78°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 82°F) and coldest in Oct (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 227 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Canton Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Fulton County
Nearby Lakes in Fulton County
Explore Canton Lake across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Canton Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RDD · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Canton Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Canton West Stp, City OfCanton · 3.6 mi away · NPDES IL0027839MajorRecent violation
- Noah Kesselmayer Private Sewage Disposal SystemCanton · 0.3 mi away · NPDES IL0080279Recent violation
- Jason Atterberry Private Sewage Disposal SystemCanton · 0.3 mi away · NPDES IL0080307
- Aventine Renewable Energy - Canton LlcCanton · 3.2 mi away · NPDES IL0076830
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-10-24
Monitoring stations: 3